Fluid-meter



F. LAMBERT.

FLUJO Meren.

INVENTOR M vBY Y ATTORNEY www BIT..

F. LAMBERT.

FLUID METER.

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num METER.

l APPLICATION FILED ocr. 9, 1916. 1,331,159. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W1 Ils/155511.95 INVENTOR. 3&1 4 91.... M

.N mi, B Y m M MMQM ATTORNEY UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oE-EroE.

EEANK LAMBERT, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLUID-METER.

ATo all whom t may concern: Y

vfollowing' is 'a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in meters for measuring the flow of fluids, particularly liquids, and to that class of such meters, termed duplexv meters, which comprises two meters, one designed for the accurate measuring of low flows, the other for the accurate measuring of higher Hows, together with suitable valve means for cutting oif the low rate of flow meter,and cutting in the high rate of flow meter, when the fiow rate exceeds a predetermined value, and for cutting in the low rate of flow meter and cutting o ut the high rate of How meter when the rate of flow falls below a predetermined value. My invention comprises an im'- proved current meter designed for operation at high rates of flow; an improved stepbearing for meter rotors, particularly the rotor of the current meter; an improved rotor shafthaving a removable and reverf sible bearin tip; an improved arrangement of bearings for the shaft of the meter rotor;

an improved relative arrangement ofthe meter rotor 'shaft and of the pinion of the gear train driven by that shaft; an improved' valve for cutting in and out thelower and higher rates of flow meters; a novel Vsluice ring; animproved arrangement of flow passage in connectionv with the lower rate of flow meter; and other features, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims.

The ob] ects of my invention are-generally I to improve fluid meters, particularly duplex meters, and to render the same adaptable for usel under commercial conditions of the most trying character. iOther objects of my inv v, vention will appear hereafter.

I will now roceed to describe' my invention with re erence to the accom anying drawings, and will then point `out t e novel features in claims. Insaid drawings:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of my improved duplex meter. A

Fig'. 2 shows a fragmentary axial section ofa portion of the rotor of the current meter 5 and associated parts. y'

' Fig.v 3 shows a. fragmentary elevatiol of A- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 17, 1920,

Application led Octqber 9, 1916. Serial No. 124,440.

the lower portion of the shaft of the current meter and the bearing ball upon which that shaft rests.

Fig. 4 shows al transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a top view and partial section of the gear train of the current meter and associated parts.

Fig. 6, shows a fragmentary elevation of the upper portion of the shaft of the current meter, the upper portion of the bearing for such shaft being shown in axial section.

Fig. 7 shows a centralvertical section of the gear train of the higher rate of How meter, or current meter, and associated Fig. 8 shows, on a larger scale than Fig. 1, a central verticalsection'of the valve and associated parts for cutting in andout of action the lower and higher rates of iow meter.

Fig. 9 shows a topyiew of the gear train lof the lower rate of flow meter.

Referring first to nates the casing of e higher rate of flow meter, such casinghaving an inlet Spud 2 and an outlet Spud 3. 4 designates the valve casing, having an inlet spud 5 and an outlet spud 6. 7 designates a casing mounted upon the valve casing 4, and inclosing within it the two part casing 8 9 of the lower rate of iiow meter, which latter meter is of the ordinary nutating disk type; 10 designating the nutating-disk piston yof this latter meter.

11 designates a bonnet for casing 7, and 12m designates a bonnet for casing 1.

The-higher rate of -ow meter, or current meter, comprises a rotor chamber, 13, lo-- cated'- within casing l; and with-free flow lspace varound it leading to ports 14 and 15 19 communicating with the discharge space 20. Within this rotor chamber 13 are two bladed rotorA wheels 21 and 22 of opposite pitch, mounted upon the same rotor shaft 23, and arran ed to impart motion to that e,

shaft. It wi be seen that fluid, entering through ,the Spud 2, surrounds bracket 18 and enters chamber `13 upwardly through port 14 (and so actingupon the'blades of wheel 21) and downwardly through port 15 Flig. 1, numeral 1 desig- (and so acting upon the blades of the wheel 22); the fluid which has acted upon these two wheels passing into the space between such two wheels and then 'outward through the main port 24 of spud 3 into the How passage 25 of valve casing 4. Such flow occurswhen the valve (hereinafter mentioned) within such valve casing, is open.

At other times, e., when such valve isclosed, the Huid fiowing through the casing lpasses out through a secondary port 26 in the outlet spud 3, into another` flow passage 27 of the valve casing 4, and then actuates the nutating disk meter, as hereinafter described. Rotor chamber 13 has portlons 28 and 29, surrounding rotor wheels 21 and 22 somewhat closely and causing the fluid entering through ports 14 and 15 topass between the blades of those wheels with a minimum of slip, thereby causing such wheels to-rotate in substantial proportion to .the rate of flow of the fluid past them. The motion thus communicated to wheels 21 and 22 is in'turn communicated, through shaft 23, and a gear train hereinafter described, to suitable registering mechanism.y The nutating disk meter of which 8-9 constitutes the casing and 10 the disk, is in itself Well known and 'needs no particular description here. It suiices to say that at low rates of flow, when the valve (hereinafter mentioned) within casing 4 is closed, iuid enters the casing 8 9, through an inlet port not shown, from the space surrounding this casing 8-9, and actuates the disk 10, such fluid being then dischar ed through a port 30; whence, as 'hereina ter described with relation to the action of the valve within outlet of the casing 4. The disk 10, in its nutation, operates a suitable gear train, 'whereby a suitable registering mechanism is operated, as hereinafter described.

The valve mechanism within casing4 com- 4prises-a valveproper, 31, of the piston type,

havingtwo piston portions, 32 and 33, arranged to fit closely Within valve ports 34 and 35, respectively, and having, further, a cushion plate36, of larger diameter than piston portions 32 and 33 and adapted to rest upon a valve seat 37. The valve ports 34 and 35 are in webs of the casing 4, sepavrating the inletside of that valve casing from the outlet side thereof; and when the valve ports 34 and 35 'are open, fluid may fiow freely from the inlet side of the Vvalve chamber 4. to the outlet side thereof; valve 31 having a constricted portion 38 to facilitate such free flow through the port 35 when the valve is in the elevated position shown in Fig. 8. Valve 31 has a lower guide stem 39, working in a suitable bearing 40 of the casing 4, andy has also an upper guide stem 41 working in a suitable guide in the sluice ring hereinafter mentioned. By these stems the valve is guided in such manner as to move very freely. Measurement will show that the piston portion 33 of the valve is of slightly greater diameter, than the piston portion 32; from which fact it follows that when fluid pressure n the inlet side of the casing 4 is sufficient to overcome the weight 0f the valve, the valve 31 will lift slightly; and then, as such fluid pressure acts upon the bottom surface of cushion plate 36, which plate is of greater diameter than pis-I ton portion 33, the valve will rise still higher, and will remain elevated so long as there is sufficient flow through port 35 to overcome the weight of the piston 31. As above stated, the discharge from the nutating disk meter 8-9-`10, is through a discharge port 30. l This discharge port communicates withV a passage 43, in sluice ring 42, leading to avalve port 44 and thence (when such valve port 1s open) to a passage 45 in the sluice ring having an outlet 46 into the discharge side of the valve casing 4. When valve 31 is in its elevated position, its upper stem 41 closes the port 44, and so prevents operation of the lower rate of flow. meter, 8-9-10,`except as hereinafter stated. But when, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve 31 is down o r in its closed position, then stem 41 no longer closes port 44y and there isfree opportunity for How from discharge port 30 of meter 8-9-10, through port 44, passage 45 and outlet 46, and thence through the discharge outlet of spud 6.

It will thus be seen that the valve 31 shuts off the fiow through the higher rate'of iiow meter (of which 21 and 22 are the rotor wheels) but at the same time permits' iiow through the low rate of flow meter (of .which 10 is the piston), when the rate of Iflow is not suiiicient to raise the valve 31 -against its own weight; but when the rate The cushioning plate 36, which is commonly formed of hard rubber, not only acts as an auxiliary piston of the valve, but also acts as acushion for the valve, when seating of the latter occurs; and furthermore,

this plate 36, by seating on the shoulder 37,

or valve seat, forms a tighter closure than would the piston 33 by itself, for such piston 33 must necessarily have some clearance with respect to its port 35. While the current meter or high rate of How meter, of which 21 and 22 together constitute the rotor, is a Ivery free-running meter, yet with -v the disk 36 seated, leakage, if any, between such disk 36 and its seat 37, and leakage, if any, between valve piston 32 and its port 34, will be too small to cause rotation of such rotor Ell-22. It is not desirable that the low rate of iow meter shall come absolutely to rest, when this can be avoided, because it requires slightly more flow to start this meter in operation, once it has come to rest, than is required to continue it in operation. Hence a small by-pass port 44a, is provided,

V leading direct from discharge port 30 of the low `rate of 'liow meter to passage 45. Since the total ow is determined by reading the registering devices of both the high rate of iiow meter and the low rate of flow meter, and addingthe totals, the small amount of the fluid passing through this port 44a while valve 31 is elevated, does no harm, and is registered so as to appear in the total.

The cushioning plate 36 is removably secured 'to the valve 31 by means of a-top plate 47 and screw 48. Being readily removable,

it may be replaced when necessary. The

sluice ring 42 is located, as will be seen, in a suitable seat in the top of the valve casing 4; and being so seated, is accurately centered so that the axis of its port 44 is accurately in line with the axis of the valve ports 34 and 35. A suitable gasket 49 is interposed between valve, casing 4 and casing since this sluice ringqis below the gasket, and is clear of the bolts by which the casings 4 and 7 are secured together, the alinement of this sluice ring is not affected bythe setting upy of the gasket 49, or by the stresses possibly incident to the bolting together of casings 4 and 7.

Returning now to the primary or higher rate of flow meter. As indicated particularly in Fig. 2, the propeller wheels 21 and 22' are usually of hard rubber, and are usually hollow; and in practice the weight of these propeller wheels is such that they tend to fioat, or at least are just about balanced as to flotation', in the fluid, which the meter is to register. The shaft 23 on which these propeller wheels 21 and 22 are mounted,

asses through steady-bearings formed in,

iiard rubber bushings 50 and 51' themselves located in tubular. portions 52 and 53 of the bottom and top plate 16 and 17; aand, as shown particularlyin Figs. 2 and 3, the

lower end of the shaft 23 is provided with a socket within which is located a removable and reversible hard rubber-'tip 54, resting upon a bearing ball 55 located within a hollow socket screw 56 and held in place by an adjustable seat screw 57. It will be obvious that the step-bearing formed by` ,the-tip. 54, the ball 55, and the seat screw 57 is of such nature as to affordl practically the absolute minimum of frictional resistance, the more so. as these parts are submerged inthe fluid metered (which enters the step-bearin space through ports 58), However, shou d any detrimental wear of these parts occur, the tip 54 is easily removed, and, when removed, may be reversed and reinserted, thus affording a new bearing end; or, if both ends of this tip be worn, then a new tip may be inserted. The ball 55 will rarely, if ever, require replacement because of wear, as not only is it harder than the rubber tip 54, and therefore less likely to be worn than the tip 54, but also it provides an almost infinite number of bearing spots, which may be placed underneath the tip 54.

The two meters together constituting the duplex meter illustrated and described, are each provided with the. usual registering mechanism, which I have not shown, except by the conventional cases 59 and 60, within l'which it may be understood that the said 'mechanism through a suitable train of gears. The train of gears for the higher rate of flow meter is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This gear-'train is supported by a table 61 having a perforate central hub 62 fitting over the central stem-portion of the cover 17; to which table is secured, so as to form practically part of it, a bracket 63. Upon the rotor shaft 23 ismounted the Hrst pinion 64, of the gear train. As shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper end of the rotor shaft 23 is vscrew threaded at 65 to receive this pinion 64, and also has, above its screw threaded portion 65, a cylindrical portion 66; and further, the pinion screws down against a shoulder 23Et of shaft 23. Thepinion, being formed accurately to correspond to the portions and 66 of said shaft 23, nd being screwed down against said shoulder, is not only held in place, but is accurately centered; a condition essential for smooth operation of the gear train.

This pinion 64 intermeshes with a gear 67, which itself drives a pinion 68 in mesh with a gear 69 which drives a pinion 70 in mesh with a gear 71 which drives a pinion 72 in mesh with a large gear 73 at the top of the bracket 63, and the axis of which isconcenf tric with the axis of the rotor shaft 23. This large gear 73 is provided with the usual perforations 74`t`o receive the yoke 7 5' of the shaft 7 6 whichl passes through a suitable bearing and through a suitable stuiii'ng box 77 (see Fig. l) and drivesfthe registering vmechanism within casing 59. Because; this 'member of this gear train, and which drives the registering mechanism, is also concentric ionJ with the shaft 23, the ac curate construction of the meter is greatly simplified, as is also the construction of the gear train in such` manner that it shall run very smoothly and with minimum friction. It will be understood that in order that such a gear train may run very smoothly or lightly, lmost accurate location of the centers of the gears carried by the table 61, and most accurate location of the first gear, 67, with respect to the pinion 64, and most accurate location of the final gear 73, with reference to the shaft 76, is necessary. Itis of course relatively easy to properly locate the centers of the gears which are on the table 61; the mounting of this table on the bearing tube for the shaft 23 accurately locates that table with respect to such shaft, and thereby locates the (rear 67 so that it will be in proper mesh with pinion 64. The fact that the vfinal gear 73 has its axis in line with thev axis of shaft 23, makes it easy to locate the bearing-for the register-driving spindle 76, so that that spindle will be properly driven by the gear 73.

The arbors for ears 67, 69 and 71 project through suita the table 61 and rest against a' hard rubber piece 78, which forms a step-bearing for such arbors. I have found that this construction provides, under the conditions under which the arbors operate, a particularly low friction step-bearing.

The bracket 63 is 1 rovided with a hard rubber bearing piece 9 which forms a top bearing for the rotor shaft 23, in case the -iow of the iiuid should cause the rotor to l' rise sufficiently so that the top` of the rotor shaft comes in contact with this bearing piece 79.

The hard rubber bearing bushings 50 and 51 are held invplace by screws 80 (Fig. 2) having eccentric heads which are adapted to it into corresponding notches of the bear- 86 which meshes with a gear l87 itself driving a pinion 88 which meshes with a gear 89 driving a pinion 90 which meshes with a gear 91 driving a pinion 92 which meshes with a centrally located gear 93 having apertures 94 to receive the yoke 95 onv the register-driving spindle 81. The arbors for gears 87, 89 and91 have lower bearings in ,a table 96 supported on the top member 9 ofthe meter casing 8 9, and on this table 96 is supported a bracket 97 in which such arbors have a top bearing and in which also the shaft 85 has a top bearing. The fact le bearing apertures in.

that the final gear 93 of the train has its axis concentric with the axis of the shaft 85 and also with register-driving spindle 81 greatly facilitates accurate construction and location of the gears with consequent easy running thereof, for reasons similar to those `4`(iehiplained above with reference to the drive of the higher rate of flow meter.

It has been stated that the rotor wheels 21 and 22 are hollow, and are usually of hard rubber. In the process of forming these wheels (which process I do not describe herein", since the process is well known to rubber workers) it is necessary to employ an easily vaporized liquid which, when the wheel is finally completed, remains in the hollow space of the wheel. It is desirable to remove this liquid, in order to lighten the wheel, and balance it better. To that end, a small aperture is formed in the wheel, through which the liquid 'can be withdrawn, and then this aperture is tapped and a headed screw 99 inserted, there being usually a suitable washer 100 beneath the head of this screw; and in this way the said opening is closed hermetically, and entrance of the fluid to be measured into the hollow space of the wheel prevented. In practice, and in order that the rotor wheel maybe in' perfect balance, two such holes, and two such screws, are commonly provided, the said holes and screws being di-ametrically opposite and at equalv radial distances from the center of rotation.

Also, and particularly in the/ case of wheels for large meters, stifening posts 101y are provided, which posts are commonly integral with the walls of the wheel. These vposts are used to prevent collapse of the wheel under high hydrostatic pressure.

In another application for Letters Patent Serial No. 680,837, filed March 1,1912, now Patent No. 1,253,502, dated Jan. 15, 1918, I have claimed, the combination with a rotor chamber separate from the main casing, of a rotor mounted for rotation within such rotor chamber land also for axial movement therein, and arranged to be held in Huid suspension by the action of the owing fluid upon it. Therefore such invention is not claimed broadly herein. In the specific structure of my said prior application, upon which the claim referred to is predicated, the rotor itself is not of such weight, in reference to its volume, that in and. of itself it is in flotation balance in the fluid flowing through the meter; the said rotor being provided with a member, in the path of the- Howing current of Huid, and adapted to be acted upon by that current, to hold the rotor in suspension.V A. f

What I claim is 1. A duplex -meter comprising in combination two meters, one 'adapted for register- -ing relatively high rates offiow, the other and comprising differential valve pistons and a cushion plate, controlling flow through the high rate of How meter, such valve havnation two meters, one adapted :for registering relatively high rates of flow, the other for registering lower rates of How, said meters having flow passages whereby iluid to .be metered mayA pass through the one meter or through the other, an automaticv valve controlling flow through said meters and arranged in one position to ermit free ing a seat for the cushion plate against@ flow through the high rate of ow meter,

which the latter seats when the valve close's` ow through the high rate of {iow meter,`

said valve comprising means for restricting iiow ,through the low rate of flow meter when such valve is open to permit iow through the high yrate of flow meter. 2. duplex meter comprisin in combination two meters, one adapted or registering relatively high rates of How, the other for registering lower rates of How, said meters having iiow passages whereby. fluid to be metered may pass through the one meter or through the other, and an automatic valve controlling iow through said meters and comprisin diierential valve pistons and a cushion p ate, controlling flow through the high rate of flow meter, such valve having a `seat for the cushion plate against which the latter seats when the valve closes iiow through the high rate of flow meter, said valve comprisingtmeans for restricting :How through the low rate of flow meter when such valve is open to permit flow through the high rate of flow meter, such cushion plate of greater diameter than the valve pistons of such valve, and constituting means against which the flowing fluid may act to increase the opening/of the valve once that valve has begun to open.

3. A duplex meter comprising in combination a meter casing having main inlet and outlet connections and having within it a high rate of flow meter, a valve casing having. a main inlet connection in communication with the main outlet connection of said meter casing, and having also a main ohtlet connection, with valve-ported walls between its said main inlet and outlet connections, a relatively low rate of `flow meter, a flow connection leading from the first mentioned meter casing to said low rate of flow meter, a discharge connection leading from such low rate of How meter to the outlet of said valve casing, a diil'erential piston valve adapted for coaction with the said valve ports of said valve casing, and having also valve means controlling flow through the low rate of flow meter, said valve mea-ns arranged in one position to restrict flow through the high rate of flow meter, and to permit {iow through the low rate of flow meter, and arranged in another position to permit low through the high rate of iow meter and to restrict flow :through the low vrate of flow meter. et

4:, A duplex meter comprising eom'biand to restrict iiow through the low rate of flow meter, and in another position to ermit free flow through the low rate of ow 'zoV Huid to be metered may pass through the one meter or through the other, an automatic valve controlling flow through said meters and arranged in one position to ermit free flow through the high rate of ow meter, and to restrict flow through the low rate of iow meter, and in another position to permit free flow through the low rate of flow meter and to restrict flow through the high rate of How meter, and a restricted bypass permitting restricted flow through the low rate of flow meter when said valve is restricting ow through that meter.

6. A` duplex meter comprising in combination a meter casing having main inlet and outlet connections and having a meter therein, a'valve casing having inlet and outlet connections, the former adapted to register with the main outlet connection of such meter casing,another. meter easing mounted upon thevalve casing, and a further meter located within such second meter casing, suchirst mentioned meter casing and the valve casing having communicating ducts adapted to lead fluid from the admission side of the rst mentioned meter casi-ng to said second meter casing, a duct leading from the discharge side of the second' meter to 'the' discharge connection. of said valvel caslng, and valve means within said valve nation a meter casi-ng having main inlet and outlet connections and having a meter therein, a valve casing having inlet and outlet connections, the former adapted to register with the main 4outlet connection of such upon the valve casing, anda further meten located within such second meter casmg, such first mentioned meter casing and the',

meter casing, another meter casing mounted valve casing having communicating duets adapted to lead fluid from the admission side of the first mentioned meter casing to said second meter casing, ayduct leading from the discharge side of the second meter to the -discharge connection of said valve casing, and a restricted by-pass permitting restricted flow through one of said meters when said valve means is restricting flow through that meter.

8. A duplex meter comprising in combination a meter casing and a valve casing, a meter Within said meter casing, a second meter casing mounted upon the valve cas? ing and a second meter Within such second meter casing, a sluice ring interposed between said valve casing and said second meter casing, the first mentioned meter casing and the valve casing having a main flow passage and having also a second How passage which leads to the second meter .cas-

ing, the valve casing having a discharge passage and the second meter and the sluice rin having together a discharge passage lea ing to the discharge passage of the valve casing, and valve means within said valve casing arranged in one position to restrict fiow through the first mentioned meter and to permit free flow from the discharge of the second meter, and in another position to permit free flow from the first mentioned .meter and to restrict flow from the second meter.

9. A duplex meter comprising in combination a meter casing and Aa valve casing, a meter within said meter casing, a second meter casing mounted upon the valve casing and a second meter within such second meter casing, a sluice ring interposed between said valve casing and said second meter casing, the first4 mentioned meter casing and the valve easing having a main flow passage and having also a second fiow passage whieh leads to the second meter casing, the valve casing having a discharge passage and the second meter and the sluice ring having together a discharge passage leading to the discharge passage of the valve casing, and valve means within said valve casing arranged in one position to restrict fiowthrough the rst mentioned meter and to permit free How from the discharge of the second meter, and in another position to permit free flow from the first mentioned meter and to restrict fiow from the second meter, and a by-pass leading from between the second meter and said valve means to the discharge passage of said valve casing.

10. A duplex meter comprising in combimeter within said meter casing, a second nation 'a meter casing and a valve casing, a 85 meter casing mounted upon said valve casing said second meter casing to said valve casing, a second meter within said second meter casing, a sluice ring interposed between said second meter casing and the mef ter therein, on the one hand, and the said .valve casing, on the other hand such sluice ring seated in a shoulder of the valvecasing beneath the said gasket, whereby said sluice ring is supported and centered independently of the gasket and of the means for securing said second meter casing to the valve casing, said pvalve casing having a discharge connection, said second meter and the sluice ring having together a discharge passage leading to the discharge passage of the valve casing, and valve means controlling fiow from the first mentioned meter to the said outlet passage of the valve casing, and also controlling How from the second meter through the discharge passage of said sluice ring, said valve adapted in one position to permit freeflow from the first mentioned meter, and to restrict flow from the second mentioned meter, and in another position to restrict flow from the first mentioned meter and to permit free flow from the second mentioned meter.

11. A duplex meter comprising in combination a meter casing and a valve casing, a meter within said meter easing,` a second meter casing mounted upon said valve casing, a gasket between said second meter casing and said valve casing, means for securing said second meter casing to said valve casing, a second meter within said second meter casing, a sluice ring interposed be tween said second meter casing and the me ter'therein, on the one hand, and the said valve casing, 'on the other hand, such sluice ring seated in ashoulder of the valve casling beneath the said gasket, whereby said sluice ring is supported and centered independently of the gasket and of the means for securing said second meter casingto the valve casing, said valve casing having a discharge connection, said second meter and the sluice ring having together a discharge passage leading to the discharge passage of the valve casing7 said valve casing having ported partitions in the path of fiow from the first mentioned meter to the outlet passage of such valve casing, and a differential piston valve located in the ports of said partitions and controlling flowA through such ports, and having also a ,valve extension controlling flow through the said discharge passage of .the sluice ring.

12. A duplex .meter comprising in Vcombination a meter casing and a valve casing,

a meter within said meter easing, a second 4 ring is supported and centered independ` ently of the gasket and of the means for securing said second meter casing to the valve casing,4 said valve casin having a discharge connection, said secon meter and the sluice ring having together a discharge passage leading to the discharge passage of .the Vvalve casing, said valve casing having '.ton valve located in the ports of said partiorted partitions in the path of flow from the st mentloned meter to the outlet passage of such valve casing, and a differential pistions and controlling flow through such ports, said sluice ring having a valve port, in line with the valve ports of the said partitions of the valve casing, and Vsaid valve having a valve stem adapted in one position of the valve to enter and close the said port'of the sluice ring.

13. A duplex meter comprising 1n combination a meter casing and a valve casing in communication therewith, the valve casing having a discharge passage, the meter casing having a meter therein,' another meter casing mounted upon the valve casing and a further meter located within such second meter casing, such second meter having a discharge connection, a duct for leading fluid to the meter from the inlet side of the first mentioned meter casing to the second meter casing, and a unitary valve within said valve casing and controlling the flow from the first mentioned meter and having a valve stem adapted to pass through, to

open and close, a port in the path of discharge from the second meter, and a member independent of the second meter and the casing therefor in which member such port is located.

14. In a meter, the combination wlth a rotor chamber, a head for such chamber comprising a -socketed extension, a rotor Within said chamber, a shaft upon which such rotor is mounted, said shaft extending through the said socketed extension,.and a bearing bushing for said shaft located in said socketed extension and means'for retaining such bearing bushing comprising an eccentric-headed screw, carried by the head of said rotor chamber,I the head of said screw engaging a slot of said bearing bushmg.

15. In a meter, the combination with a rotor chamber, of a rotor therein, a revolubly mounted rotor shaft for said rotor, bearings for said shaft, and a reducing gear train driven by said rotor shaft, and comprising a driving pinion, screw-connected to said rotor shaft and bearing at one end against a shoulder on such shaft, said shaft having further a cylindrical concentric extension which the bore of such pinion lits closely, by engagement with which cylindrical portion and with such shoulder the pinion is accurately centered with reference to said shaft.

16. In a meter, the combination .with a rotor, a rotor shaft, bearings therefor, a gear-table, a support therefor, a gear train mounted on said table, the first member of which gear train is driven by said rotor shaft and is mounted concentrically thereon,

and. the final member of which gear train 'forming a support and bearing-step for said arbors.

18. In a meter, the combination with a rotor chamber, a head for such chamber comprising an extended neck portion, a rotor within said chamber, a rotor shaft on which such rotor is mounted, said shaft ex` tending through the neck portion of said head, a gear-table having a socket extension fitting over said neck, whereby said gear table is centered with respect to said rotor shaft, a gear train mounted upon said gear table, and driven by said rotor shaft and a register-driving spindle arranged to be driven bysaid gear train.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib` ing witnesses.

FRANK LAMBERT. Witnesses:

.H. yM. MARBLE,

PAUL. H. FRANKE. 

